Disaster

vaz2121 · 2017-03-04 05:31:25

Well more because we've returned home after only one night out....

We set off Thursday to go somewhere not really anywhere in particular just Northward as we had heard that there was some Geomagnetic activity and a faint possibility of the Aurora Borealis .......As there was some rain and cloud cover we took the opinion of trotting up the west coast to Arisaig, Applecross, kyleakin and the likes so as poised to head further north if needed and not to be bored disappointed should the weather stay overcast.

On passing through Bridge of Orchy there was a Pop like a bag/plastic bottle noise.... That may have had nothing to do with anything....We then after crossing Rannoch Moor pulled into Ballachulish and stopped at the Co-op......

On returning to the van after about 15 mins and just after getting into the van there was an almighty CRACK N BOING the van visibly dropped and felt like something hit the floor....

It was clear that we'd broken a spring..... So quick shifty as it was getting fairly dark to make sure the broken end wasn't going to be likely or able to poke a hole in the tyre we then moved to the other side and made tea and camped opposite the visitors centre

I would say although we stayed snug(we had our hot water bottles) it was quite possibly the coldest night out we've spent in van (noticeable when making a cuppa at around 3.00 am)
Anyway now that we're back home and Ive been checking for springs -- prices etc ....I'm not sure which springs which..... Even after the usual hdi... dw8 or 815D or 900D van question.... it seems all front diesel springs are 15mm wire have same radius but height choice I've been given is 395mm, 398mm, 405mm and 415mm and depending which motor factor whether it does or doesn't matter ....for some it does for others it's any van any spring just what length is it you want ?..........

vaz2121 · 2017-03-09 05:58:21

Normality has been restored.....

Looks that if you have a mk1 Expert, Scudo,Dispatch/Jumpy..... all front Springs whether a 1.9 or 2.0 HDI are the same and from what I gather the 405mm height is only one offered (Unipart) However there is that other option you never realized existed as a Dispatch van......So

Take Van to mates garage on Monday:.... lunchtime He calls Motor factors and orders spring after all the usual questions of REG number: Make: Model: Engine size: and I assumed the Pi** take question "Does it have a sunroof ?"..........

Now to be fair he also ordered some parts for a Vauxhall and a Nissan as well as my Dispatch to be on first delivery Tuesday morn........

So leave van and he Dismantles front strut ready for new spring first thing........ But: Doesn't arrive till second delivery .....

Anyway finishes job he's on, Turns his attention to my van... Opens this Big Tall box to get Spring and after all the questions: Reg Number ETC .....
it's that other option and Still being fair ... it is a spring for a Citroen........... A Citroen C3!!!! ............. FFS......

So It took until after Two this afternoon:(Wednesday) Time Spring got delivered and fitted (first ordered as a V.O.R. as I wanted/needed van back sharp mad ) Also He's had to work round it for Two days

Casper · 2017-03-09 10:24:36

Feck. Euro car parts wanted 65 quid for one. So where you getting yours from. Hope not Partco as they are normally good.

OAT · 2017-03-09 15:33:38

Couldn't even log in to offer commiserations. Glad you are sorted and thanks for the spring info.

Good luck with your arora hunt, never managed to catch one myself.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S3jCFeCtSjk

vaz2121 · 2017-03-10 02:48:38

Casper wrote:

Feck. Euro car parts wanted 65 quid for one. So where you getting yours from. Hope not Partco as they are normally good.

I checked Euro car parts also.... with their usual online + weekend 30 discount price came down too £48 for 1.9 Sachs spring yet I noticed if searching without Reg but make: model ETC the 2.0HDI Spring was couple £ cheaper again......

I had found Suplex and Continental direct Springs on eBa* dirt cheap .. So Used that as a baseline..... Got Springs from Express factors (Which I was told took over Partco, In this Parish anyway and is run within Border Cars)

First Spring (C3) delivered was a Suplex ...Which they quoted cheaper than anyone including eBa*... Surprise Surprise............
They were unable to supply a Suplex spring for the Dispatch hence a Unipart and as I was initially willing to pay an overnight V.O.R. that turned effectively into 3days I did some griping and finished up getting Spring for £25+ VAT and fitting... (So about the cost of Euro Car Part spring on its own)

Silver Lining and all that smile in the end

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OAT wrote:

Couldn't even log in to offer commiserations. Glad you are sorted and thanks for the spring info.
Good luck with your arora hunt, never managed to catch one myself.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S3jCFeCtSjk

Cheers

I caught a very faint Aurora about 14 months ago at Portencross, Ayrshire But looked more like a Snotie cloud with a faint glow ...... But the Nikon DSLR picked it up brilliantly as cameras do

I also witnessed a great display of Aurora Online after watching a live Viking Up Helly Aa ......( http://www.shetland.org )

On bucket list still to see a really bright display with Naked eye as I'm not counting what camera can see .....Nice as it is

Last edited by vaz2121 (2017-03-10 03:42:12)

Casper · 2017-03-10 07:30:20

Remember carparts4less as an option or these what may be plastic at that price lol

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/PEUGEOT-EXPER … SwnNBXYp8X

vaz2121 · 2017-03-10 10:58:11

Casper wrote:

Remember carparts4less as an option or these what may be plastic at that price
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/PEUGEOT-EXPER … SwnNBXYp8X

Checked out "carparts4less"..... same spring brand as Euro car parts and slightly cheaper than price I got..... But no need to hunt out and apply discount codes, so much easier/cheaper overall from Euro car parts ........ a good call Cheers....... I've saved that link

Trouble I find these days is even the good well known quality brands all appear to be getting Sh** made in China and to be fair not all of it is totally Sh**

I did see similar spring prices to your link ...... my worry apart from they are made of plastic is they may on first appearance look and perform OK but after a month or Two start to settle as all springs will .... however start to sag excessively

tee_cee · 2017-03-11 13:38:45

I think carparts4less is the same outfit as Eurocarparts

Casper · 2017-03-11 16:03:11

tee_cee wrote:

I think carparts4less is the same outfit as Eurocarparts

It is yes and they also trade under a third name through ebay. For th elife of me i cant remember the name but its a small saving but free postage.

tee_cee · 2017-03-20 13:25:12

Would you believe that one of my front springs has just broken, while parked up in the driveway.
I just called my local who quoted £288 - which seems like a lot (even for the South East). What were your fitting costs?

vaz2121 · 2017-03-20 14:54:39

tee_cee wrote:

Would you believe that one of my front springs has just broken, while parked up in the driveway.
I just called my local who quoted £288 - which seems like a lot (even for the South East). What were your fitting costs?

This may not be entirely valid comparison as I got my spring at trade because of the c*c* up the motor factors made but I got spring fitted in Total for £90.00....I was charged £25+ vat for spring, I'd take a guess around £50+vat for time ........
Which I say was about an Hours worth of work changing spring............
I was there when it was dismantled and that took no more than 20 mins from jacking van up inc spring off the strut............ I just had to wait an extra 2 days from then till right spring arrived

The strut unbolts from under the wing (2 Bolts) and unblots from Lower suspension arm and he had the broken spring off strut in less than 5 mins with there fancy spring ratchet compressing thing... It is quite a hefty spring as it filled the largest set of jaws for there machine
Id say the rebuild took not much longer by the sound of them

It was a Unipart spring fitted although originally I was told a suplex spring which Ive seen on eba* at very competitive prices

Last edited by vaz2121 (2017-03-20 14:56:31)

tee_cee · 2017-03-20 17:30:16

Thanks. I got another couple of quotes - National Autocenters quoted £314 & KwikFit were £215 but were already talking about needing to do the tracking for and extra £54. With the local outfit I can walk there, so it's easy, and I trust them to do a proper job.
Bit of a bugger really, since I was due on the ferry from Birkenhead on Wednesday morning, so I don't really have the time to look around.
I guess it's better to happen now, rather than on the road during the summer.

vaz2121 · 2017-03-21 04:54:04

tee_cee wrote:

I guess it's better to happen now, rather than on the road during the summer.

Yes you have a point.....It can be costly and not just monetary to have a breakdown when on a trip
Pity you didn't have a little more time before departure....

I was from about 1995 through to late 2006 down in Lewes E. Sussex and used the same garage bar once for all of the time I lived on the South downs.
Garage was recommended to me and in time trusted their work, I'd become very good at knowing what I'd broken over the years driving Artics and nursing them home with a running repair (botch) if possible.......

But could hardly believe the difference in cost of even basic servicing on returning back permanently ten years ago

Again it may not be an entirely fair comparison as the garage I use here all the time is what I would class as a back street garage and owned by a very long standing friend.
However as you pointed out trust in them is a big part in continuing to use them and let them loose on my vehicle and now also to do with age and infirmity where as previous It was more down to time constraints that I didn't tackle a job myself.....

To be fair it's a hefty spring car wise to be mucking about with on driveway

tee_cee · 2017-03-22 09:52:17

When I went to drive the van to the garage, there was a loud clunking noise. The spring had jumped down onto the top of the tyre, meaning that I couldn't reverse. After jacking it up and pondering for a bit, I remembered that I've got breakdown insurance, so the truck was here within an hour. The next problem was how to get it onto the truck, since the van was facing the wrong way. Got it sorted by taking the wheel off and banging the broken spring to twist it back a couple of inches clear of the tyre. Anyway all fixed now, and rebooked the ferry for Thursday.
Interestingly the breakdown guy said it was typical of Peugeots & Citroens, and usually the front nearside spring that failed.
Also the invoice from the garage had listed the springs at £75+vat each (I was just pleased to be up and running again, so didn't ask what they were)

vaz2121 · 2017-03-22 18:20:44

First thing I did was check where and how spring was broken as I've had over the years both puncturing the tyre there and then and the coil winding its way down the strut and puncturing tyre or breaking at the top and jamming up and falling out of the strut top bearing and not allowing to steer properly as it's digging into the inner wing

I was lucky this time that broken end had gone in the spring cup.....
Broken one "twist" up from bottom, it was still supported and turning OK on the strut bearing............. but as it was late Ish, hence why I waited till the morning before doing any thing else...

I'm not so sure this is typical of Peugeot/Citroen more than any other car but I may be wrong ..... M.O.T. Guy here recons that vehicles that sit for long periods can be prone to springs breaking as if its acquired a memory effect and then the shock of rough roads/pot hole.....but he also points out that many more cars are coming in with broken/cracked springs because of the state of roads and the first the owners know about it is at M.O.T. time...

Still that was an original spring on my van..... so at 95,000mls now and almost 11 years doesn't sounds out of the question

Good to hear your fixed up and have peace of mind ......... I assume your sailing to Ireland, the roads in the south used to be bad in the 80's much improved now when last over to Killarney in 2012

tee_cee · 2017-03-23 11:16:46

I'm assuming that this is the original spring also, so 15yrs & 90k is probably OK. I've only done a few hundred miles since the last MOT, so a bit surprised that nothing was showing then. Will be spending most of the time in the north, where the roads are good, and the drivers less so smile

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#1 2017-03-04 05:31:25

Disaster

#2 2017-03-09 05:58:21

Re: Disaster

#3 2017-03-09 10:24:36

Re: Disaster

#4 2017-03-09 15:33:38

Re: Disaster

#5 2017-03-10 02:48:38

Re: Disaster

#6 2017-03-10 07:30:20

Re: Disaster

#7 2017-03-10 10:58:11

Re: Disaster

#8 2017-03-11 13:38:45

Re: Disaster

#9 2017-03-11 16:03:11

Re: Disaster

#10 2017-03-20 13:25:12

Re: Disaster

#11 2017-03-20 14:54:39

Re: Disaster

#12 2017-03-20 17:30:16

Re: Disaster

#13 2017-03-21 04:54:04

Re: Disaster

#14 2017-03-22 09:52:17

Re: Disaster

#15 2017-03-22 18:20:44

Re: Disaster

#16 2017-03-23 11:16:46

Re: Disaster

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